Adhesive tape applicator



Deco 9, 1969 11 MOMULLEN, 5a,, ET AL 3,483fl64 ADI-IE5 IVE TAPEAPPLICATOR Filed Jan. 9, 1967 HUGH L.GOAT5 JR BY United States Patent3,483,064 ADHESIVE TAPE APPLICATOR Thomas J. McMullen, Sr., and ThomasJ. McMullen, Jr., Minneapolis, and Hugh L. Coats, Jr., Minnetonka,Minn., assignors to The McMullen Co., St. Paul, Minn., a corporation ofMinnesota Filed Jan. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 607,935 Int. Cl. B44c 7/02 U.S.Cl. 156-577 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wheel mounted mobileframe having an adhesive tape roll carrier pivotally mounted thereon, aground-engaging tape applicator roll journalled in the carrier forwardlyof the frame supporting wheels, and rotary tape roll mounting meansincluding cooperation friction elements for retarding tape dispensingrotation of a tape roll mounted thereon. A weighted tamper roll isdisposed in trailing alignment with the applicator roll for pressingdispensed tape firmly to the ground traversed by the frame.

Specifically, the present invention is utilized for the laying, onpavement or the like, elongated strips of tape for temporary trafiiccontrol, as by the marking of vehicular or pedestrian traffic lanes,parking areas, stopping lines and the like. Such tape is usuallyprovided with a pressure sensitive adhesive surface for engagement withthe pavement, and has been heretofore applied to the pavement byequipping a roll of tape with a handle and rolling the tape roll on thepavement, after which the tape is pressed tightly to the pavement by aseparate tamping device such as a handle-equipped roller.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a tapeapplicator for the purpose set forth by means of which adhesive backedtape can be quickly and easily applied to ground surface such as apavement.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tape applicatorhaving a novel construction which aids in the application of tape in astraight line on smooth or uneven surfaces.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tape applicatorhaving detachable tape tamping means whereby the tape may be applied tothe pavement and pressed into firm adhesion therewith in a singlecontinuous operation.

The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages ofthis invention will become apparent from the following detailedspecification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in whichlike reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the severalviews:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in top plan of a tape applicator producedin accordance with this invention, some parts broken away and some partsshown in sections;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, some parts being brokenaway;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken substantiallyon the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in axial section takensubstantially on the line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, a rigid frame1 is shown as comprising a normally horizontally disposed transversetubular frame member 2, a centrally located radial frame arm 3 andopposite side frame arms 4. The frame arms 3 and 4 are identical,projecting in an upward direction from the tubular frame 3,483,064Patented Dec. 9, 1969 member 2, being welded or otherwise secured attheir lower ends to the frame member 2. The frame 1 further includes apair of generally rearwardly projecting frame members 5 that are weldedto the tubular frame member 2 adjacent opposite ends of the tubularframe member 2. The frame members 5 are curved to provide upwardly andrearwardly sloping rear ends that are telescopically received in theadjacent ends 6 of a rearwardly and upwardly sloping generally U-shapedhandle 7 of metallic tubing or the like. The frame members 5, as well asthe handle 7 adjacent the ends 6 thereof, are provided with alig-nabletransverse apertures for reception of wing-nut equipped anchoring screws8 by means of which the handle 7 is detachably secured to the frame 1.

The frame 1 is supported by a pair of tire-equipped wheels 9 disposed atopposite ends of the tubular frame member 2 and mounted fast on adjacentends of a rigid axle 10 that extends axially through the tubular member2 and which is journalled in sleeve bearings 11 in opposite ends of thetubular member 2. Thus, the frame 1 may be swung about the common axisof the wheels 9 and axle 10, as indicated by full and dotted lines inFIG. 2.

A tape roll carrier 12 comprises a pair of laterally spaced legs 13 anda generally U-shaped bracket 14 welded to the legs 13 intermediate theirends. The radially outer end portions of the frame arms 3 and 4 areprovided with aligned openings for reception of an elongated mountingrod 15 that is disposed in radially outwardly spaced parallel relationto the tubular member 12, the rod 15 also extending through suitableopenings in the rear ends of the carrier legs 13 whereby the carrier 12is rotatable relative to the frame 1 on the axis of the rod 15. Anapplicator or pressure roll 16, preferably made of rubber or the like,is journalled to the front ends of the legs 13, by means of a shaft 17,on an axis parallel to the axis of the wheels 9. With reference to FIGS.2 and 3, it will be seen that the carrier legs 13 slope forwardly anddownwardly from the rod 15, the applicator roll 16 operatively engagingthe ground ahead of the supporting wheels 9. Stop means limitingdownward swinging movement of the carrier 12 relative to the frame lcomprises a rigid stop bar 18 that is welded to the frame arms 3 and 4intermediate the ends thereof, the stop bar 18 being adapted to engagethe legs 13, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2, such as will occur whenthe handle 7 is swung downwardly to a predetermined degree, thus causingthe applicator or pressure roll 16 to be raised out of operativeengagement with the ground or pavement.

The bracket 14 includes a pair of laterally spaced parallel carrier arms19 that extend generally forwardly and upwardly in a direction generallynormal to the longitudinal dimension of the carrier legs 13 and which,at their upper end portions are provided with aligned slots 20 forreception of a shaft 21. The shaft 21 is threaded at its opposite endportions to receive nuts 22 and 23, the former of which is adapted toengage an annular clutch elements'24 that is keyed to the shaft 21 foraxial sliding movements thereon. The clutch element 24 has frictionalengagement with the adjacent end of an annular bushing or the like 25that cooperates with a second annular bushing element 26 to support thecylindrical core 27 of a roll of wound tape 28, the core 27 being snuglyfitted over the bushing elements 25 and 26 for common rotation therewithon the shaft 21. Intermediate the bushings 25 and 26, a coil compressionspring 29 and a tubular spacer 30 are mounted on the shaft 21, and ashort spacer element 31 is interposed between the bushing element 26 andits adjacent nut 23. The spring 29 yieldingly urges the bushing element25 into frictional engagement with the clutch element 24 whereby toretard rotary movement of the roll of tape 28 relative to the shaft 21.The shaft 21 is clamped against rotation in the carrier arms 19 by awing nut or the like 32 screw threaded on the shaft 21 adjacent the nut22, the wing nut 32 clamping the adjacent carrier arm 19 therebetweenand the nut 22. Frictional engagement between the clutch element 24 andadjacent bushing 25 is adjusted by tightening or loosening either of thenuts 22 or 23 relative to the other thereof.

The tape 28, as it comes from the manufacturer, is wound on thecylindrical core 27 with the adhesive equipped side of the tape disposedradially inwardly. The roll of tape 28 is mounted on the carrier 12 sothat the tape is discharged from the rearwardly disposed portion of theroll thereof. The end of the tape 28 is fed over the applicator orpressure roll 16, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the adhesive equipped sidethereof engages the ground or pavement under the roll 16. The operatorthen uses the handle 7 to push the entire device in the desireddirection. The retarding effect of the frictional engagement between theclutch element 24 and adjacent bushing 25 causes a downward bias to beimparted to the applicator roll 16 about the axis of the rod 15, wherebyto press the tape 28 firmly to the underlying pavement. This downwardbias is adjusted by varying the compressive force of the spring 29, asabove described. By having the wheels 9 fixed to the common shaft 10,the tape applicator of this invention tends to follow a straight line,even over rough and uneven portions of the pavement.

For the purpose of more firmly pressing the tape 28 into engagement withthe underlying pavement, we provide tamper means in the nature of atamper roll 33 and a relatively heavy weight element 34. The weightelement 34 is in the nature of a block of cast metal, such as iron,having laterally spaced depending fiange portions 35, the tamper roll 33being journalled on a transverse shaft 36 mounted in the lower ends ofthe flange portions 35. Preferably, the tamper roll 33 includes acovering of closely spaced relatively rigid radial bristles 37 which,under bias of the weight element 34, firmly press the tape 28 intoengagement with the underlying pavement irrespective of the smoothnessor roughness of the pavement surface. The tamper roll 33 is disposed intrailing alignment with the applicator roll 16, the weight element 34being formed to provide a laterally generally central connector arm 38and side connector arms 39 laterally spaced from opposite sides of thecentral connector arm 38. The connector arm 38 is formed at its frontend to provide a generally downwardly opening bifurcated hook 40 whichstraddles the central radial frame arm 3 and has hooking engagement withthe tubular member 2, the side connector arms 39 each having their frontends formed to provide downwardly opening hooks 41 that have hookingengagement with the tubular member 2, the hooks 41 each being rigidlyconnected to the bifurcated hook 40 by transverse bar portions 42.Further, the weight element 34 is provided with a handle 43 by means ofwhich the tamper means may be manually carried independently of the restof the applicator device. With reference particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5,it will be seen that the bifurcated hook 40 bottoms or rests upon theadjacent portion of the tubular member 2, while the hooks 41 havearcuate bottom surfaces 44 that are normally upwardly spaced from theunderlying portions of the tubular member 2. This arrangement permitslimited lateral rocking movement of the weight element 34 and tamperroll 33 so that the tamper roll 33 may closely follow the contour of theunderlying pavement. The weight element 34 and parts carried thereby arereleasably locked in hooking engagement with the tubular member 2 by ahook locking member 45 that is longitudinally slidably received in alongitudinal groove 46 in the central connector arm 38. At its forwardend, the locking member 45 is formed to provide a curved tongue 47 thatis adapted to underlie the tubular member 2 when the locking member 45is moved to a forward position on the connector arm 38, as shown in FIG.3. The connector arm 38 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot48 for reception of a thumb screw 49 that is screw-threadedly receivedin a suitable opening in the locking member 45, whereby to lock thelocking member 45 in its forwardly disposed locking position of FIG. 3or in a retracted released position, not shown. Preferably, the tongue47 is down- Wardly spaced from the adjacent portion of the tubular framemember 2 suffciently to permit the above mentioned lateral rockingmovement of the weight element 34 and parts carried thereby.

With the above arrangement, a strip of tape of any desired length may bequickly and easily laid on a pavement and securely adhered thereto witha single pass of the device over the desired area.

What is claimed is:

1. An adhesive tape applicator comprising:

(a) a frame,

(b) a pair of axially aligned frame supporting wheels at opposite sidesof said frame,

(0) an upwardly and rearwardly sloping handle secured to said frame,

((1) a tape roll carrier having a rear end pivotally connected to saidframe on an axis generally parallel to the axis of said wheels, saidcarrier sloping downwardly and forwardly from its pivotal connection tothe frame and having a lower front end normally in close proximity tothe ground,

(e) a ground-engaging applicator roll journalled in the lower front endof said carrier on an axis parallel to the axis of said wheels, and

(f) means on said carrier for mounting a roll of adhesive tape thereonfor rotation on an axis in generally upwardly spaced parallel relationto the axis of said applicator roll, said means including a relativelystationary shaft and a relatively rotary tape roll supporting mandrel,and a pair of cooperating friction elements on said shaft and mandrelfor retarding rotation of a roll of tape mounted on said mandrel.

2. The applicator defined in claim 1, characterized by a stop element onone of said frame and carrier and engaging a cooperating portion of theother of said frame and carrier to limit pivotal movement of saidcarrier in a downward direction relative to said frame.

3. The applicator defined in claim 1 characterized by a horizontallydisposed transverse axle journalled in said frame, said wheels beingfixed to opposite ends of said axle, said frame being tiltable on theaxis of said axle in directions to impart relative movement between saidelement and its cooperating portion toward and away from each other.

4. The applicator defined in claim 1 in which said frame includes ahorizontal transverse tubular member and a plurality of axially spacedradial frame arms extending generally upwardly from said tubular member,the radially outer ends of said frame arms having axially alignedapertures therethrough on an axis parallel to the axis of said wheels,characterized by an elongated rod extending through said alignedapertures, said carrier being journalled on said rod.

5. The applicator defined in claim 4, characterized by an axle extendingaxially through said tubular member and journalled therein, said wheelsbeing fixed to opposite ends of said axle.

6. The applicator defined in claim 1 in which said carrier includes apair of forwardly and downwardly sloping legs and a bracket secured tosaid legs intermediate the ends of said legs, said bracket including apair of'generally upwardly extending arms having upper ends defining apair of aligned slots therein for reception of said shaft, said shaftbeing releasably locked in said slots.

7. The applicator defined in claim 1, characterized by tape tamper meansincluding a weight element, a groundengaging tamper roller journalled insaid Weight element on a generally horizontal axis parallel to the axisof said wheels, a plurality of connector arms projecting generallyforwardly of said weight element, and means for pivotally connectingsaid connector arms to the frame on an axis generally parallel to theaxis of said applicator roll and disposing said tamper roller intrailing alignment with said applicator roll.

8. The applicator defined in claim 7 in which said frame includes ahorizontal transverse tubular member and a plurality of axially spacedradial frame arms extending generally upwardly from said tubular member,one of said frame arms being disposed generally centrally between theopposite ends of said tubular member, said means for pivotallyconnecting said connector arms to said frame comprising, a bifurcatedhook on one of said connector arms having hooking engagement with andresting on said tubular member and straddling said centrally disposedframe arm, and hook portions on the others of said connector arms havinglimited generally vertically movable hooking engagement with saidtubular member in axially spaced relation to said bifurcated hook,whereby to permit limited rocking movement of said tamper means indirections transversely of the direction of movement of said frame.

9. The applicator defined in claim 8, characterized by a hook lockingmember mounted on said one of the connector arms for movements towardand away from an operative position adjacent said bifurcated hook andtubular member, and means for releasably securing said locking member indesired positions of said movement thereof.

10. The applicator defined in claim 8, characterized by an axleextending axially through said tubular member and journalled therein,said wheels being fixed to opposite ends of said axle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,315 4/1913 Mabie ....156526BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner STEPHEN C, BENTLEY, AssistantExaminer

